Planning For Holiday Parties: Balancing Social Fun And Health

The idea of eating healthy during the holidays might sound like an oxymoron, but six weeks of indulgence will make you wish you had. If you're tasked with organizing the office potluck or hosting (or even just attending!) a holiday party, you can help spread healthy holiday cheer this year.A holiday party doesn't have to be synonymous with overindulgence. Instead, the goal is to have food that tastes great. Luckily, delicious food can also be nutritious and good for you. From using fresh fruits and vegetables to swapping excess sugars and unhealthy fats for better-for-you options, you can throw a fun party with food that won't weigh your guests down. If you’re just heading out to a party, you can make sure you have some healthy options by bringing your own snacks.It takes the same effort to make healthy bites as it does to make the not-so-healthy ones, and oftentimes it's pretty easy. Here are some tips to get you started:

​Use what’s in season. Grapes, pears and apples are all in season during the holidays. Use the natural sweetness of these fruits to add flavor and reduce added sugars in your favorite dishes. Use them to create creative appetizers, salads and soups. There are also vegetables like sweet potatoes, other root vegetables, winter squash, and dark leafy greens. Look for bite-sized recipes using a search for those ingredients to find some easy-to-eat party foods.

Make a not-so-traditional vegetable tray. A vegetable tray doesn’t have to be the boring old supermarket tray. Season vegetables with loads of fresh herbs and roast them, serving them alongside an herbed yogurt dip. Skip the ranch dressing – that can quickly turn healthy veggies into a creamy, fatty snack.

﻿Go easy on indulgence. Skipping everything deliciously bad for you is just crazy. Pick a yummy-looking bite-sized item or two and select a couple. Grabbing the bite-sized snacks is a way to help you portion control easily.

Make a fresh fruit platter. But wait. Jazz it up a bit. Skewer fruit to make some tropical fruit kabobs. Drizzle fruits with some chocolate or caramel sauce or serve alongside some whipped cream. Give your guests some incentive to choose the fresh fruit as the cure for their chocolate cravings.

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Staying motivated during the holidays...

Is it better to exercise in the morning or later in the day? Good question – and there’s not an answer that is 100% right for everyone. However, consider this – many people rely on willpower to put on their exercise clothing and get out the door for a walk, run, or physical activity class. If you are relying on your willpower, it may be better to be active first thing in the morning. Research supports that each person has a ‘supply’ of willpower and if you use up your willpower during the day getting through tasks that you aren’t motivated to do, then your willpower supply will be low when you need it to help you be physically active. If this situation rings true for you, you may find that being physically active first thing in the morning will help you be more consistent.